to all 2nd try applicants

[ssd]

just curious how all of us second-timers are doing this year...

i'll start.

last year: sent secondaries to about 20 schools. interviewed at gw (rejected), usc keck (rejected), nymc (waitlisted), uc davis (waitlisted).

this year: sent secondaries to about 20 schools again. no acceptances. 2 interviews completed at albany (waitlist) and mcphu (no word yet, but fingers crossed). upcoming interviews at evms (2/8) and mcv (2/11).

difference between this year and last year: turned my secondaries in quicker, continued working full-time in nutrition research, had 3 papers published, presented a couple of papers at a scientific meeting, did some basic science labwork, cofounded a free nutrition clinic for an indigent population.

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[THE instiGATOR]

Man, don't sweat it! It's in the bag, bro!

Last year: Applied to 15 schools, but only received secondaries from 9 (I submitted all received secondaries). I interviewed at UF in March and was promptly rejected. THAT'S IT! <img src="graemlins/wowie.gif" border="0" alt="[Wowie]" />

This year: Applied to 21 schools, received secondaries from all of them but only submitted 18. I received my first interview invitation with USA and was almost immediately accepted. I have since withdrawn my application from seven schools (two of which requested an interview), interviewed at Albany Med (was rejected), and have interviews lined up with USF (1/28) and EVMS (2/22). So, I have had 6 interview requests (a significant improvement over last year). I'm still waiting to hear from UF and Emory.

Difference between this year and last:
I bumped my GPA from a 3.50 to a 3.63.
I bumped my MCAT from a 26 to a 30.
I began shadowing a physician and have continued for 9 months.
I continued my research project (til my damned instrument broke down).
Continued working as a writer.
Selected better schools to apply to (fewer out-of-state publics & fewer "top-notch" schools).


I really hope all of you 2X applicants get some lovin' this time. It sucks reapplying, and I hope you don't have to do it again (same applies to 3X applicants).

 

[A. Caveman]

i had three interviews (17 secondaries) last year with 3.6 and 29 mcat from UM. interviewed at NW, UF, NYMC. rejected!! i applied after my junior year like most people.

this time..graduated from UM (senior year, gpa crashed--3.0 for that year.) when graduated, did everything to improve application (around that time i found out i was rejected everywhere). so i retook mcat and am applying now.

gpa 3.44
mcat 34
30 secondaries
doing accelerated biomedical sciences master's program that i'll finish by june.

result: hold at uf, hold at gw, rejected dartmouth, god knows what at the other 25 schools. interviews at temple and mcp.

i've done everything i could, including adding good rec letters to my premed committee packet, and thought i'd get like 10 interviews..i'm very disillusioned.

 

[otter]

Caveman, which accelerated masters program are you in? I would've thought that those programs help your med school cause greatly. With your stats and the masters program, I don't understand why you aren't getting more interviews. Do you think that your program is paying any dividend?

 

[wolferman]

Caveman, no wonder your posts are so cynical. You deserve to get in but have been brushed aside. Looking at your stats, I really hope you get in. After all, if you don't, then there's little hope for me. Good luck.

 

[imtiaz]

last year: 28 schools, 9 secondaries, 0 interviews.

this year: 11 schools, 10 secondaries[didn't send back Boston's "secondary" ie. $100 check]. no word yet.

since last year:

enrolled in a grad for an MS in Chem (May 2002 complete)
published 2 papers
speaking at a global conference about my research this march
2 poster presentations
TA'ed 2 sems of Gen Chem

3.67 grad gpa
2.8 ugrad gpa
31 mcat

who knows, but im freaking out!

 

[A. Caveman]

thanks fellas, i hope the schools throw me a bone before i become the most cynical, hateful person in a carribbean med school.
the program i'm enrolled in is a Master's in Science at a small private school. the master's is in biomedical sciences and it's accelerated so that i'll finish the 36 credits in 1 year (including summer). the master's basically consists of taking med school courses (i took 14 credits last semester, taking 17 this semester. these are grad school credits, where 9 is full time, so the load is pretty heavy. the classes i've taken and am taking are histology w/lab, biochemistry, ethical foundations, gross anatomy w/lab, neuroanatomy w/lab, physiology w/lab, and pharmacology. all that makes up 31 credits, and i'll take maybe pathology over the summer to complete 37 credits for the degree. i figured it would help a lot because it's preparing me for med school and it's a very ambitious, tough schedule. still, things aren't paying off that much. anyway, if anyone finds this program interesting, PM me.

 

[Jalby]

My turn. Applied two years ago. turned in 32 secondaries. No interviews.

What I did different

Volunteering from 4 months to 18 months.
MCAT stayed the same.
Undergrad from 3.16 at time of appling to 3.27.
Grad school GPA of 3.67 ( now 3.81)
Research from 5 months to 2.5 years.
Masters in Biochemistry.
7 quarters TAing biochemistry
3 new good letters of rec and one rewritten.

Now, applied to 29 schools (4 more in the last month)

Got about 12 interviews, and about 11 rejections so far. On rejection post interview. Gone on 8 interviews, three more schdualled, and on cussed out admissions staff.

 

[katiep]

Hey everyone, it appears to me that Caveman wants a motherly nipple to suck on! Don't give it him!!! Instead, tell him to get off his rump, to get up motherf*ker, and to hold his head up, etc.

Caveman, just kidding. I really can't believe you won't get in this year. Although your GPA went down, it did by very little, and is completely offset by the change in MCAT. 34 is impressive. Plus you have a lot of other additions to boot.

I'm sure you'll get in somewhere. But, then again, isn't that what people have always been saying? Good luck.

 

[Brian20]

guys

i applied to about 11 schools last year and was the last guy not to get picked at SUNY Upstate. So needless to say that was a tough pill to swallow.
i had one other interview at albany. got rejected and was told by the director of admissions that she could see no "obvious reason why i was rejected." which just leads back to the theory that med school is a crap shoot.

i have a 3.5 and 28. i had some volunteer as an undergrad and played hockey and was a TA for two bio classes. while applying last year i was working as an aide/ekg tech/cath lab tech in a hospital. great experience...eventhough i got **** on by nurses. got great letters of rec from doctors...and just learned a lot about health care and the hospital....it really helped in interviews.

as for this time around, i applied to 8 schools with the idea that i would get into the school i was one person shy of getting into the year before. i did, and was really glad i didnt waste too much money applying.

funny though, i didnt get an interview at albany this year....that really pisses me off, even though i would never go there....way too much money compared to state school....but i must admit i did love albany med when i interviewed.

i am currently doing research. i wanted to have all my bases covered...how horrible does that sound. but i must admit that i am only doing this to get into school. hey, ya do what ya gotta do.

so far i have interviewed at nymc and been rejected at rochester and accepted at suny upstate.

good luck guys and i would have to say that clinical experience is the best. its teaches you the most and makes you most prepared for interviews.

take care and good luck.

 

[ccryder]

Applied two years ago to 18 schools, can't remember how many secondaries I sent out, interviewed only at University of Washington (out-of-state at the time) and was rejected. My own state schools didn't interview me because they had my state of residence wrong and I wasn't on the ball enough that year to figure it out until it was already too late.

What I've changed:
Older and Wiser (or so I like to think)
Work experience
More hands on clinical volunteer experience (8hours/week)
GPA from 3.4 to 3.63
MCAT from 30 to 37
Better lors

This year I applied to 10 schools, have been accepted to U Mich, Tulane and U Wash (I moved here and set up my residency). Had interview at USC and one scheduled this week at McGill. All in all this is turning out to be a better year albeit a lot more hassle.

 

[johnM]

I applied last year to 15 schools, sent in all but one secondary and only got one interview at NYMC, where I was permanantly wait-listed. This year I applied to 13 schools, sent in all secondaries and got interview at USUHS (accepted), EVMS, Albany, Loma Linda and MCP-Hahnemann. I guess I'll get in to a couple more of thsese schools, but I've only heard back from USUHS. My 3.6/30 didn't change, the only thing different is that I'm working in a lab at the NIH now, and I applied earlier. Honestly, I think that time factor is the biggest thing. I don't think that there was anything glaringly wrong with my first application, and it just seems to be working out a lot better this year. Congrats to everyone who is getting in this time around!

 

[2NT]

Applied two years ago to 12 schools. Send in 8 secondaries. Interviewed at UF and was waitlisted.

Working as a nurse assistant for 1.5 years now and retooked MCAT this past April.

Applied much ealier this year to 21 schools and sent in 20 secondaries. Interviewed at GW(still no word), Miami(no word), FSU(no word), USF(accepted), Finch(accepted). Declined interview for Creighton.

Good luck everyone!

-2NT

 

[kutastha]

Then: The year was 1995. I applied to 25 schools with a MS in Chemistry, a 3.3 UG GPA, a 3.7 grad GPA and a 34S MCAT. I got about 13 secondaries and no interviews.

Now: I applied to 25 schools again. I have received 17 secondaries (still waiting on UCLA), 9 rejections, have had 3 interviews, and one acceptance at UVM.

What's different: I bumped my MCAT up to a 36. I will have a PhD in Molecular Biology in May, which brings publications and 4+ years of lab experience in a cancer hospital. I discovered a tumor suppressor gene. I did some volunteer work. I didn't mention I had diabetes in any of my essays. I got rec letters from MD/PhDs for whom I've worked. I was prompt in all my correspondence. Had four years on graduate council and started a student activites office on the USC HSC campus. And I can needlepoint.

Andrew

 

[johnM]

kutastha, you can needlepoint? wow, you're a shoe-in! Anybody can discover a tumor suppressor gene, but you've got what it really takes!

Seriously, you sound so qualifies that I would be mad for you if you didn't get in. good luck, and congrats on UVM

 

[A. Caveman]

wow, i'm truly inspired by the efforts that jalbrekt (holy GOD) and kutastha (holy MARY MOTHER OF CHRIST) have put into their applications. in comparison i look like crap. i guess a lot more can always be done. you guys are amazing, i have no right to complain (i thought i did..i was wrong), so i'm gonna shut up from now on (promise).

anyway, katiep, i'm on my feet and fighting..i only complain(ed) to you all at night, but during the day i'm really busy with classes. this is just a good place to vent.

PS. pass the lactating breast....

 

[Jalby]

(.)(.)

 

[jase133]

Perhaps a little Canadian presence here

Last Year: 3.8
MCATs: 33P

Interviewed at two of five schools applied, rejected both.

This year: Dropped to 3.75
MCATs: no change

Applied to 16 medical schools and 2 dental schools.

Yay - I'm 5-6k poorer!